As alarming as Chad Billingsley’s struggles have become, manager Joe Torre said Monday he has no plans to skip the right-hander’s spot the next time through the rotation.

“It’s not to that point; we need him out there,” Torre said. “We’re trying to win games and put people in a position to where they have the best chance to win. We certainly can’t forget about him. We need to find a way for him to get (success) under his belt.”

Billingsley has struggled this month with a 5.63 ERA in three starts. Add in his last start of August and he has a 6.00 ERA over his past four outings. Against San Francisco on Sunday, he lasted just four innings, his second shortest this season.

Billingsley says he feels fine physically and his mechanics aren’t out of whack, but slight variations in his delivery are having a profound effect. After starting the season 5-0 with a 2.21 ERA over six starts, he is now 12-10 with a 3.99 ERA.

“It’s just a matter of getting that good feeling back; pretty much you have to feel it,” Torre said. “A lot of the times, whether you’re a pitcher or a hitter, you try to control it. In his case maybe he’s trying to make too good of a pitch instead of trusting your stuff. You think like that. It’s a little tough to explain it.”

Assuming the Dodgers advance to the postseason, the closest thing they have to a certain Game 1 starter is Randy Wolf. But Wolf missed his past start with a hyperextended left elbow. He will return to the mound tonight.

Billingsley might not even be the Dodgers’ third-best option at this point, not that Torre has set his mind toward postseason play.

“Don’t put that in my head,” he said. “The only question I have rethought about answering is home-field advantage, I said it wasn’t important, but you realize that means you win. That’s what we’re trying to do is win every game so we can win the division.”

Kershaw plan

Clayton Kershaw, who hasn’t started since Sept. 4 because of a separated right shoulder, is expected to throw a simulated game on the current homestand that ends Sunday. It would then be another five days to a week after the simulated game until the left- hander can return to the rotation. He hurt himself Sept. 6 when he rammed his right shoulder into the wall while chasing a fly ball during batting practice.

Major honors

Shortstop Dee Gordon and lefthander Scott Elbert were named the Dodgers’ top minor leaguers of the year.

Gordon, 21, is a speedy left-handed hitter, who led the Midwest League with 73 steals at Single-A Great Lakes. He is the son of accomplished major- league pitcher Tom Gordon.

Elbert, 24, who is currently in his fourth stint with the Dodgers this season, had a combined 3.84 ERA in 96 innings at Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Albuquerque. He entered play Monday with a 2-0 record and a 5.29 ERA in 13 appearances with the major-league club.

Not so positive

Dodgers minor-league pitcher Jose Dominguez tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol, and will receive a 50-game suspension, Major League Baseball announced.

Dominguez, 19, has pitched the past two seasons for the Dominican Summer League Dodgers. He was 4-5 this past season with a 3.64 ERA in 15 appearances (13 starts). His suspension will begin at the start of next season.

Elimination day

Left-hander Aaron Miller, the Dodgers’ first pick in this year’s draft (36th overall) pitched well but his Low Single-A Great Lakes team was eliminated from the Midwest League playoffs by Fort Wayne, a San Diego Padres affiliate.

Miller gave up one run in six innings and had a no-decision in the 4-3 defeat in 10 innings. He was 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in seven starts at Great Lakes.